43

86

46.5

41.6

44.1

.339

.358

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

They've got a huge series this week against the Japanese Little League World Series champions.

2

49

80

51.4

47.3

48.0

.379

.361

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Twice in their last 38 games they have scored more than six runs, and both times it was 10 runs. And one of those 10-run games they lost.

3

54

75

56.8

56.6

56.5

.434

.454

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Bench coach Mark Parent was ejected on Sunday during the lineup card exchange. They then won their eighth game in nine tries. Everything is connected.

4

55

75

59.5

62.2

62.6

.460

.440

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

In the 13th inning, the Cubs blew a two-run lead. It's good to see they've moved on from the Carlos Marmol era.

5

57

72

56.1

58.2

58.6

.445

.465

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Samuel Deduno's six strikeouts on Friday was the second time a Twins starter had that many this month and 11th time this season. (The team's season high is seven.)

6

57

73

58.8

61.6

62.8

.462

.442

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Caleb Gindl's first two at bats in Cincinnati were home runs. Still a few days before the waiver trade deadline.

7

58

71

61.2

64.6

63.3

.479

.499

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.0%

In the time it takes the average Hit List reader to finish this sentence, Peter Bourjos is already on third base.

8

58

72

55.8

60.0

60.9

.451

.432

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Ryan Vogelsong is on yet another comeback tour, which should make him the Rolling Stones' bassist by 2015.

9

58

70

59.3

58.6

58.3

.457

.438

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.1%

Matt Harvey continues to defy odds and do things pitchers shouldn't be able to do, such as allow two runs on 13 hits.

10

58

73

59.8

58.2

60.4

.451

.471

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Not swept by the Astros! Hope for the future!

11

59

71

55.9

57.9

58.1

.444

.424

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Man, Edinson Volquez has definitely fallen fast. What I'm trying to say is he is trapped in a hole in the ground. Stop reading this and help him out.

12

59

71

53.8

53.2

55.1

.425

.406

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

A healthy and effective Roy Halladay probably bumps Casper Wells out of the rotation.

13

59

70

54.4

57.8

57.6

.444

.463

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.0%

A little advice to the team that scored two runs this weekend: the wooden bats are for swinging at the little white round thing. And for the team that only drew four walks: don't swing at the bad ones.

14

61

71

64.1

64.2

61.0

.474

.454

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

-0.0%

Rocktober is just around the corner. First they have to get through Rocktember and Rockgust, then figure out who vandalized all the calendars.

15

65

65

62.7

63.2

63.1

.488

.468

0.0%

1.7%

1.7%

-0.2%

0.5%

It's not so much me taking bets on them finishing 81-81, so much as it is me stealing your money because this is absolutely happening.

16

65

64

66.2

59.6

60.8

.488

.508

0.0%

0.3%

0.3%

-0.1%

-3.8%

Since July 1st, Greg Holland has allowed one run, two extra base hits and struck out 31 batters in 21 innings.

17

66

63

65.9

63.5

63.9

.502

.482

0.6%

2.8%

3.5%

0.4%

-7.7%

If you can live in a desert, you can win all the 18th-inning games you want.

18

69

61

64.5

57.6

59.0

.481

.501

0.3%

7.5%

7.8%

1.2%

2.4%

Alex Rodriguez had just a 2-for-9 series in Tampa Bay. You'd think he'd play better in a stadium named after ... JUICE.

19

70

59

69.6

67.3

68.1

.533

.553

2.0%

17.3%

19.4%

2.5%

-4.1%

Nick Markakis homered for the first time in over two months, which was also two Travis Ishikawa roster moves ago.

20

71

59

69.3

67.9

68.9

.533

.553

1.7%

35.0%

36.7%

8.8%

16.6%

This season is shaping up like that one movie about Cleveland baseball where the underdogs clinch the pennant, "Damn Yankees."

21

72

57

70.8

70.7

68.4

.546

.566

21.5%

37.5%

59.0%

-9.4%

-19.8%

Jarrod Parker's last three starts: 25 innings, three runs allowed, two on home runs.

22

74

57

75.6

75.5

75.6

.574

.554

18.8%

78.0%

96.8%

-0.2%

2.7%

Jay Bruce had just his second off-day of the season on Saturday. He had errands to run, but forgot that the bank closed.

23

74

54

70.7

76.4

76.4

.581

.600

37.0%

54.2%

91.2%

-3.2%

2.1%

Evan Longoria has hit three home runs in three different series this year, two against the Yankees.

24

75

55

73.0

72.8

71.6

.562

.582

78.5%

12.2%

90.7%

-2.8%

1.8%

Adam Rosales appeared in all three games for the Rangers this weekend. Just like his fortune teller told him. But she's been wrong before.

25

76

54

80.9

77.3

76.2

.597

.577

46.1%

53.2%

99.4%

0.1%

2.6%

This month Pete Kozma is hitting .071/.220/.095. He's been on base 10 times, three of them on intentional walks.

26

76

54

71.1

73.6

71.7

.562

.542

99.4%

0.1%

99.5%

-0.0%

0.4%

Remember when this team's starting rotation featured Aaron Harang?

27

76

54

71.0

72.0

73.0

.562

.542

35.1%

64.1%

99.2%

-0.1%

1.7%

If it's not a charmed team, how else do you explain a win coming off a Clint Barmes three-run homer?

28

77

53

82.9

89.2

88.1

.649

.667

98.3%

1.4%

99.7%

0.3%

-0.0%

Max Scherzer has as many RBI doubles as he has losses, blue eyes, brown eyes and souls.

29

77

55

78.5

77.6

76.9

.587

.606

60.6%

34.6%

95.2%

2.8%

4.8%

Shane Victorino is in a miserable career slump, going GIFless in his last 18 games.

30

78

52

79.3

79.3

76.6

.602

.583

100.0%

0.0%

100.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Losing three of four games this late in the season would be unsettling news if the Braves actually played in a division.